Two Days. Generations of Notre Dame Rowers decend upon South Bend.
Alumni gathered from every corner of the country to welcome our new coaching staff, connect with current student-athletes, alumni, and celebrate an extraordinary period of growth for the program. The evening also served as the official launch for Pulling Together: A History of Notre Dame Rowing, The Early Years Through the ’70s, Volume One, authored by one of the club’s founding coaches, Michael F. Carroll.
FONDR Board Chair William S. "Billy" Mackay ’80 delivered an inspiring address reflecting on the club’s heritage before passing the torch to incoming leadership: Bart Richards ’91, former ND Rowing Club President and Lightweight 8 alumnus. The evening featured several major honors:
2026 Team MVP: Presented by John Younger ’83 to Aidan Kiley ’26 (Chevy Chase, MD). A proven boat-mover with numerous podium finishes—including gold in the ACRA National Championship 8+ in 2024—Aidan completed his degree in Neuroscience at Notre Dame and is currently attending medical school at Yale University.
The 2026 Buccini Award
The Buccini Award recognizes tireless and longtime service to Notre Dame Rowing and its alumni. This year’s award honored two recipients: Clete Graham ’75 and Billy Mackay ’80.
Clete Graham ’75 received the Buccini Award from John Younger ’85 in recognition of more than five decades of service to Notre Dame Rowing. In the fall of 1973, Clete stepped up to build Notre Dame’s newly formed women’s crew, establishing a culture of solidarity that produced the first undefeated women’s team in University history. More than fifty years later, he continues to coach these women at major regattas, including the Head of the Charles and Head of the Schuylkill.
Billy Mackay ’80, presented the award by Bart Richards ’91, has served Notre Dame Rowing for decades, carrying the perspective of a coxswain from his years on the water into his longtime leadership of the alumni community. As FONDR Senior Chair, Billy played an instrumental role in the Head Coach Endowment campaign, helping lead fundraising efforts and close the final gap that ultimately pushed the endowment beyond its $2.5 million goal. Now serving as Immediate-Past Senior Chair, Billy continues to champion the program and rally alumni support. His commitment reflects the very best of the coxswain’s role: bringing people together, keeping everyone moving in the same direction, and helping the entire boat cross the finish line.
Founding Supporters of the Head Coach Endowment
Mackay recognized Bart and Shelley Richards, whose transformative philanthropy and dedicated leadership are permanently commemorated with a bronze plaque at the McConnell Family Boathouse.
Decades Challenge Recognition: Mackay acknowledged the collective generosity of alumni and friends across every era. Propelled by the Decades Challenge, the campaign not only fulfilled its initial $2.5 million target but exceeded it by $1 million, securing a total of $3.5 million to permanently endow our head coaching position.
Alumni Row Saturday Mass, Lightning, & Rowing
Saturday morning brought heavy autumn storm fronts to the St. Joseph River, but the conditions only underscored the team’s trademark grit.
At the McConnell Family Boathouse, Rev. Drew Clary, C.S.C. (Director, Office of Vocations; Priest-in-Residence, Siegfried Hall) celebrated Mass as thunder echoed overhead, dryly remarking that he was pleased with the "immediate response from the heavens" to his homily. Undeterred by torrential showers, our alumni rowers and coxswains launched onto the river and let it rip, reviving old boat-rhythms with full power. For a few strokes, the years disappeared.☘️
The spirit of resilience carried right through the evening, capped by No. 3 Notre Dame Football’s decisive 27–10 victory over Michigan State in South Bend.
Weekend Photo Gallery: Relive the weekend’s events and view the complete photo album here.
BOOK RELEASE: PULLING TOGETHER: THE HISTORY OF NOTRE DAME ROWING VOLUME I
New Book Chronicles the History of Notre Dame Rowing
Alumni Weekend marked the publication and launch of Michael F. Carroll’s Pulling Together: A History of Notre Dame Rowing — The Early Years Through the ’70s, Volume I. Carroll, one of the founding coaches of the Notre Dame Rowing Club and the book’s author and compiler, signed copies from a limited first printing produced especially for Alumni Row Weekend and shared the occasion with generations of Notre Dame rowers.
Following the first printing, final editorial and production refinements are underway in preparation for a broader release. The public edition is expected to be available before the end of the year.
